Wednesday 5th September – The Forest of Dean and the view is now green!

I am writing this blog post while sitting on a picnic bench provided by the campsite owners of the site I am now staying at for 2 nights. Pretty nice, huh?

So, it was moving in day again today and I was sad to say goodbye to Tenby and the views, but not so much the campsite. The owner there was a really lovely man, but didn’t quite make up for the cold showers and being on a totally wonky pitch for 4 nights. I could have tried harder to make it a little less unbalanced on the pitch, but when I spoke to someone nearby who did have the equipment, he said it wasn’t really making that much of a difference and just made him nervous the van was going to topple over!

All in all, a lovely time in South Wales, but when I return I will find an easier to get to, cleaner and more level site to stay on! Only help I needed at the site was to un-tighten the legs on the back of my van. I must have screwed them in too tight when I arrived to make sure I didn’t topple over! Took 2 men to loosen them who complimented me on my strength tightening them – not so much the other way.

Easy trip, all on main roads to my next stop – hooray! I still managed to make a mistake again by not trusting my sat nav though. I was lovely and a little exciting to go across the Severn bridge twice though and go from Wales, to England, back again to Wales and then back to England all in about 30 mins! Again, managed to laugh about it – then had to pay £8 for the privilege of using the bridge back into Wales – ouch!

Really easy to find the campsite I am staying at next – Valley View – and easy process getting in as they had emailed me instructions in advance – perfect.

I drove in to the spotless, brand new site and could literally pick my pitch as it was empty! Speaking with the owner, they have been fully booked since they opened in May, and this was the first empty week – lucky me!

So, I chose my pitch and set up and on checking my spirit level, found the pitch was perfectly level, without having to adjust hardly anything at all. This made me very happy. The water and electricity supply were on my hard standing pitch too, so really easy and quick set up process. Means I had time to enjoy the view and eat some lunch with a cup of tea.

This is the view of my pitch (with all the others empty!) and I just walk through to the camping area (also empty) to enjoy the picnic tables and view of the valley and Forest of Dean.

Had some time to go and explore the local area and had seen a sign for a ‘scenic route’ earlier so headed back that way. Only one photo of this as I was driving, but it would have been difficult to get any good photos anyway as I was driving in roads with high verges of trees either side!

Eventually came to a town called Newnham-on-Severn and stopped to admire the view across the Severn and walk along for a bit. Here are some lovely photos.

Newnham on Severn was one of the five ancient boroughs of Gloucestershire west of the Severn.  It has always been convenient for the Forest of Dean, so many Kinds stayed here for the hunting, these being William the 2^nd, Henry the 1^st and 2^nd and Edwards the 3^rd.

Eventually made my way back to the van via the scenic route again and enjoyed the evening sunshine.

I headed for the showers when I got back, which were spotless and with real shower cubicles (not the horrible curtains) all for £1. Yes, they deserve a photo!

And now here I am, with a pizza waiting to be heated up in my fridge in the van and relaxing after my long journey. Will tuck myself up with some more wine and a good TV show (hopefully) later while I plan my day tomorrow. See you then!